Protesters demand persecution for ex-MP Hayrapetyan over doctor’s death

July 4, 2012 - 15:01 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - On Wednesday, July 4 protesters gathered at Armenia’s parliament building to rally over the death of a doctor beaten by ex-MP Ruben Hayrapetyan’s bodyguard.

The demonstrators, carrying “No to Impunity,” “Parliament Mustn’t Rest When We’re Getting Killed” signs, demanded for Hayrapetyan to renounce Football Federation of Armenia president’s post in addition to deputy mandate he gave up.

Those gathered urged for Hayrapetyan’s persecution, maintaining that stripping of a deputy mandate alone won’t solve the problem. Rally participants further demanded the case to be transferred to special investigative service to secure unbiased probe.

As Armenian National Congress (ANC) opposition bloc representatives, Ruben Zurabyan and Aram Manukyan noted during the rally, Prosperous Party of Armenia, ANC, Heritage and ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary groups initiated a special hearing involving law enforcement officials.

“Hayrapetryan’s giving up his deputy mandate is a result of your struggle,” Zurabyan told rally participants. “We can’t stop until we achieve a just punishment for those guilty, including Hayrapetyan.”

On July 3, FFA president, MP Ruben Hayrapetyan gave up his deputy mandate. The step followed the tragic incident at Hayrapetyan-owned Harsnakar restaurant, where his bodyguards beat 3 military doctors, with one of them having died while in coma.